The new independent front suspension system, used on both 2WD and 4WD models works beautifully and is some 100 pounds lighter than the old suspension. It's coupled with new lighter, more compact, and more precise power rack-and-pinion steering that's reasonably quick and accurate, and nicely weighted. There's plenty of understeer dialed into the handling, good for a vehicle this tall and this heavy where you don't want directional changes to happen too quickly. There seemed to be a more flatfooted, glued-down attitude with this big Jeep, with far less body roll than the previous model, which had a bit of body roll built into it that paid some comfort dividends off-road. This one is just as comfortable on- and off-road without it.
Front suspension travel is increased by almost 10 percent over the previous Grand Cherokee, and the new steering geometry yields a tighter turning circle, which counts heavily off road. A new five-link rear suspension combined with the new steering and new front suspension produced a boulevard ride, and cornering prowess, like no other Jeep in history, an enormous improvement. We don't usually go around flinging 4500-pound SUVs into corners, but this one invited a little bad behavior, which was very rewarding within the limits of its tires. We can only imagine what a Hemi version with DHS and ESP would be like.

The Grand Cherokee chassis is much stiffer and stronger than the previous version, with nary a squeak or a rattle in our short experience with it.

books

sponsored links

Four-wheel-drive systems vary by packaging and come with confusing names and complicated mechanical differences. If you order a V6 4WD, you will have a Quadra-Track I single-speed, full-time four-wheel-drive system called NV140, which uses electronic clutches in the center differential to pass out torque to the four tires as needed for best traction. No switches, no buttons, no handles, no low range. If you want more flexibility, you will have to buy one of the V8s, which have a Quadra-Trac II two-speed manual transfer case, and a locking low range. Both systems are slightly biased, with 52 percent of the torque normally going to the rear tires and 48 percent to the front.
A new wrinkle is a third four-wheel-drive system. The optional Quadra-Drive II system uses a set of electronic limited-slip differentials (ELSD) at the front, center, and rear of the drive system. ELSD replaces the Vari-Lock progressive axles in the Quadra-Drive system, with quicker response to changing conditions and greater torque capacity, for use with the Hemi engine in particular.